Broadcast receiving apparatus and starting method thereof

ABSTRACT

Display embodiments including arrangements wherein a waiting condition of a display apparatus includes a first waiting condition, and a second waiting condition being shorter in a starting time, from time when the operation is made for turning a power source ON until time when the image is displayed on a display portion, and smaller in a power consumption, comparing to those of the first waiting condition. A controller portion changes the waiting condition of the display apparatus into the second waiting condition, when a sensor detects the presence of a human being while under the first waiting condition, and changes the waiting condition of the display apparatus into the first waiting condition, when no operation is made for turning a power source ON, for a predetermined time period, after changing the waiting condition into the second waiting condition.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 12/788,892, filedMay 27, 2010, which is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No.11/748,108, filed May 14, 2007 (now U.S. Pat. No. 7,730,507). Thisapplication relates to and claims priority from Japanese PatentApplication No. 2006-228804, filed on Aug. 25, 2006. The entirety of thecontents and subject matter of all of the above is incorporated hereinby reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

(1) Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a broadcast receiving apparatus forreceiving a television broadcasting signal and a radio broadcastingsignal, and it relates, in particular, to a broadcast receivingapparatus for receiving the broadcasting signal(s) and a method forstarting thereof, with treating a predetermined process upon thebroadcasting signal waves, which are received by means of a signalprocessing device, including a CPU in a portion thereof.

(2) Description of the Related Art

In television broadcasting, in recent years, there are provided servicesof various kinds of methods, such as, terrestrial digital broadcasting,digital cable broadcasting, etc., in addition to the conventional analogbroadcasting of NTSC method. Also, accompanying with this, for thebroadcast receiving apparatus, further, it is also required to receivethe digital broadcasting, in addition to the conventional analogbroadcasting, and for that reasons, proposal is made on a broadcastreceiving apparatus executing various kinds of processes therein,including, such as, tuning, waveform processing, etc., for example, withusing a CPU installing OS therein and/or a digital LSI, and/or it is inpractical use thereof.

As an example of this, by Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2005-191937(2005), for example, is already known a receiving apparatus for enablingto receive multi-method broadcastings therewith, comprising a first CPUfor controlling the tuning and demodulation of analog broadcastingsignal, the video signal processing, and output of the video signal, asecond CPU for controlling the tuning and demodulation of digitalbroadcasting signal, the video signal processing, and output of thevideo signal, and a switch for changing over the outputs of videosignals, i.e., between the analog broadcasting signal and the digitalbroadcasting signal.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

However, with a broadcast receiving apparatus, which is also receivableof the digital broadcasting signal, in addition to the analogbroadcasting signal, though it was already mentioned in the PatentDocument 1 mentioned above, it is already known that it takes times forreceiving the digital broadcasting signal, in particular, just afterturning ON an electric power of a set, until when it displays an imageon a screen after receiving a channel, comparing to the receiving of theconventional analog broadcasting signal.

Thus, as was mentioned in the above Japanese Patent Laying-Open No.2005-191937 (2005), so-called a digital home equipment, such as, areceiver enabling to receive the analog and the digital broadcastingsignals, in recent years, for example, loads or mounts a CPU and/or adigital LSI installing OS therein, and therefore, as a system controlthereof, it is necessary to execute downloading of microcode for eachdevice and initial setup, by downloading OS and extending the compresseddata, after boot-up of the CPU by turning ON the power source of thatapparatus. For this reason, it consumes much times for startup of thesystem (for example, about 10 seconds or more). And therefore, thewaiting time until display on the screen after turning ON the powersource of this set results into a cause of irritating a viewer, and animprovement of this is waited for.

However, the receiving apparatus for enabling to receive multi-methodbroadcastings known by the Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2005-191937(2005), since it was accomplished by taking the fact into theconsideration, that a common one is broadcasted at same hours, betweenthe program on digital broadcast and the program on NTSC analogbroadcast, wherein the first CPU is able to display a message on thescreen during the time when the second controller portion (i.e., CPU) ispreparing an output of the digital broadcast, by exchanging the switchmentioned above upon basis of an electronic program information obtainedfrom the digital broadcast (i.e., by outputting the program of theanalog broadcast being short in the starting time thereof, prior to theprogram of the digital broadcast having the long starting time. Thus,with this, it is tried to reduce the time waiting for display on thescreen.

However, with the conventional technology mentioned above, as isapparent from the details thereof, since it is achieved upon anassumption of coexistence of the programs on the digital broadcast andalso the programs on the analog broadcast, therefore it is impossible todeal with digitization (i.e., stoppage of the analog broadcast) of alltelevision broadcasts, since the analog broadcast will not exist no morein the near future (i.e., starting from the year 2011).

The present invention is still effective even in case of shifting intothe digital broadcast, and in particular, an object thereof is toprovide a broadcast receiving apparatus and a method for staringthereof, for enabling to shorten the waiting time after starting of thatapparatus, irrespective of mounting the CPU and/or the LSI installingthe OS therein, as well as, suppressing consumption of electric powerduring when the apparatus is in waiting condition.

Thus, according to the present invention, there is provided abroadcasting apparatus, comprising: a receiving portion, which isconfigured to receive a signal broadcasted; a video informationprocessing portion, which is configured to produce a video signal byconducting a predetermined process upon the broadcasting signal receivedby said receiving portion; a display portion, which is configured todisplay the video signal produced within said video informationprocessing portion; an electric power source apparatus, which isconfigured to supply predetermined electric powers to each of portionsmentioned above; an electric power controller portion, which isconfigured to control condition of the electric power conditions of saideach of portions mentioned above under waiting condition; and aproximity detector portion, which is configured to detect an approach ofa human being to said detector portion, wherein said video informationprocessing portion includes, at least in a portion thereof, a portiontaking time for starting up thereof, and said electric power controllerportion controls the supply of electric power from said electric powersource to that portion taking time for starting up thereof within saidvideo information processing portion, upon detection of an approach ofthe human being by said proximity detector portion.

Also, according to the present invention, within the broadcastingapparatus, as described in the above, preferably, the portion takingtime for starting up thereof includes a CPU installing OS therein, orsaid electric power source apparatus has a first condition for supplyingelectric power to said electric power controller portion and saidproximity detector portion, a second condition for supplying electricpower to the portion taking time for starting up thereof within saidvideo information processing portion, in addition to said electric powercontroller portion and said proximity detector portion, and a thirdcondition for supplying electric power to said each of portions of saidbroadcasting apparatus. Further, according to the present invention,preferably, said electric power source apparatus is shifted into thethird condition for supplying electric power to said each of portions ofsaid broadcasting apparatus, when starting the main switch of saidbroadcasting apparatus, and moreover, said electric power sourceapparatus is in the first condition of supplying electric power to saidelectric power controller portion and said proximity detector portion,under a waiting condition prior to startup of the main switch of saidbroadcasting apparatus, and also, said electric power source apparatuscomprises a connector portion to be connected with a commercial powersource, and always supplies electric power to said electric powercontroller portion and said proximity detector portion, accompanyingwith connection of that connector portion with said commercial powersource. In addition thereto, according to the present invention, withinthe broadcasting apparatus, as described in the above, said proximitydetector portion detects the approach of the human being to saiddetector by detecting physical change within a space where saidbroadcasting apparatus is set up, and said proximity detector portion isa camera portion, which is attached on a portion of said displayportion, for example.

Further, according to the present invention, also for accomplishing theobject mentioned above, there is also provided a method for starting abroadcast receiving apparatus, comprising a receiving portion, which isconfigured to receive a signal broadcasted, a video informationprocessing portion, which is configured to produce a video signal byconducting a predetermined process upon the broadcasting signal receivedby said receiving portion, a display portion, which is configured todisplay the video signal produced within said video informationprocessing portion, and an electric power source apparatus, which isconfigured to supply predetermined electric powers to each of portionsmentioned above, wherein said video information processing portionincludes, at least in a portion thereof, a portion taking time forstarting up thereof, comprising the following steps of: detecting anapproach to said apparatus; and supplying electric power from saidelectric power source apparatus to the portion taking time for startingup thereof within said video information processing portion, dependingupon the approach of said human being to said apparatus, thereby toshift into a waiting condition. And, according to the present invention,within the method for starting the broadcast receiving apparatus, asdescribed in the above, preferably, under said waiting condition isconducted a startup operation upon a CPU installing OS therein, includedwithin the portion taking time for starting up thereof.

As was mentioned above, with the broadcast receiving apparatus and themethod for starting thereof, according to the present invention, therecan be obtained an effect superior from a practical viewpoint, i.e.,enabling to suppress the consumption of electric power during theapparatus is in the waiting condition, while shortening the waiting timeafter starting up that apparatus, irrespective of existence of the CPUand/or the digital LSI, installing OS therein, in other words, portionsof taking time for starting up.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Those and other objects, features and advantages of the presentinvention will become more readily apparent from the following detaileddescription when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawingswherein:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram for showing the detailed circuit configurationof a broadcast receiving apparatus, according to an embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an outlook of the entire of thebroadcast receiving apparatus mentioned above;

FIG. 3 is a block diagram for showing an example of the inner structuresof a remote controller, which builds up the broadcast receivingapparatus mentioned above;

FIG. 4 is a flowchart for explaining the operations within the broadcastreceiving apparatus mentioned above, in particular, when starting up;and

FIG. 5 is a perspective view for showing an example of an arrangement ofa camera apparatus, which builds up a human sensor within the broadcastreceiving apparatus mentioned above.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Hereinafter, embodiments according to the present invention will befully explained by referring to the attached drawings.

First of all, FIG. 2 attached herewith is a view for showing the entirestructures of a broadcast receiving apparatus for receiving a digitalbroadcasting signal, so as to display it, according to the presentinvention. Further, in this embodiment, mentioning will be made upon anexample of applying the present invention, in particular, into abroadcast receiving apparatus, for enabling to receive various kinds ofservices of the digital method, such as, the terrestrial digitalbroadcasting, the digital cable broadcasting, etc., i.e., so-called atelevision receiver apparatus, for example.

In this FIG. 2, as will be also mentioned later, a broadcast receivingapparatus 20 (i.e., being called by a tuner portion or a control box)comprises a tuner therein, for receiving a television broadcastingsignal, and it is able to receive any one or an arbitrary combination ofa digital BS/CS broadcasting signal, a terrestrial digital broadcastingsignal, and a digital cable broadcasting signal, or all of thosebroadcasting signals. Also, as will be also mentioned later, thisbroadcast receiving apparatus may build a hard disk drive (HDD) and/or adigital video player/recorder (so-called, a DVD player/recorder) withinan inside thereof, or it may be attachable with those, externally,outside that apparatus. Further, it may have input terminals and outputterminals for a video signal and a component signal.

On the other hand, a display portion 10, in particular, a display panel11 thereof is built up with a liquid crystal panel, a PDP or a FED,etc., and any one of them is connectable with the receiving apparatus 20mentioned above. However, hereinafter, explanation will be made with anassumption that either the liquid crystal panel or the PDP is used to bethe display panel 11. Also a reference numeral 12 in the figure depictsspeakers for outputting audio therefrom. In addition thereto, areference numeral 30 in the figure depicts so-called a remotecontroller, to be used for a user to control the receiving apparatus 20mentioned above.

Between the receiving apparatus 20 mentioned above and the displayportion 10, electrical connection is made through a means forelectrically connecting, i.e., a cable 40. However, this cable 40includes a video line and an audio line for supplying a video signal andan audio signal (i.e., so-called the video signal) to the display panel10, a communication line for transmitting a control signal, etc., fromthe receiving apparatus 20 to the display portion 10, and also anelectric power line for supplying driving electric power from anelectric power portion of the above-mentioned receiving apparatus 20,which will be mentioned later.

Next, in FIG. 1 attached herewith is shown the details of the innerstructures of the receiving apparatus 20 mentioned above. As is apparentfrom this figure, the receiving apparatus 20 comprises, within an insidethereof, a (digital) tuner circuit 21 for selecting a desired one amongthe broadcasting signals, which are received by means of an externalantenna 50, and also a video processing portion 200, being built up withone (1) chip LSI, for example, which mounts a main CPU 201 in a portionthereof, as a main controller circuit for controlling that apparatus, asa whole thereof. Further, in the structures thereof, this videoprocessing portion 200 further comprises a MPEG decoder 202 and also avideo processing circuit 203, etc., for example, within an inside ofthat chip, as well as, the main CPU 201 therein. However, this main CPU201 has functions of tuning of the digital tuner 21 and also controllingthe respective processing circuits, and also various kinds of functionsfor outputting a desired video signal. Also, this main CPU 201 is alsoable to store electronic program information obtainable from the digitalbroadcast into an electronic program information storage portionprovided within the built-in HDD or the like, which will be explainedlater, or to manage the program information of the digital broadcasts.

And, when receiving the digital broadcast, tuning of RF modulation wavesinputted from the antenna 50 mentioned above is made by the main CPU 201controlling the (digital) tuner circuit 21, upon the desired channel,and the video data is extracted from it, so that the video dataextracted is outputted to the video processing portion 200. Further, inmore details thereof, but not shown herein, an IF signal outputted fromthis tuner circuit 21 is demodulated, in particular, a digitalmodulation waver thereof within a digital modulator circuit, and isoutputted into a transport decoder to be a transport data. And, in thistransport decoder, from the transport data is extracted (MPEG) videodata, thereby to output the extracted video data into the videoprocessing portion 200.

In this video processing portion 200, also under the control of the mainCPU 201 mentioned above, the MPEG decoder 202 treats a MPEG decodingprocess upon the video data, which is obtained from the tuner circuit 21and treated with MPEG processing, and further in the video processingcircuit 203, the video data treated with the MPEG decoding process isoutputted into the display panel (i.e., the display portion) 10, in theform of a predetermined video signal required by the display portion.However, in this instance, it is also possible to record that video datainto the built-in HDD 80 shown in the lower right portion in FIG. 1 orthe external DVD recorder 90, etc. Also, a reference numeral 204 in thefigure depicts so-called a memory, as a memory device, which is providedseparate from one (1) chip LSI (i.e., the video processing portion 200)mentioned above, to be used when the MPEG decoder 202 executes theprocess thereof.

However, in the above, the main CPU 201 mentioned above, for controllingthe operations of the apparatus, as a whole thereof, including those ofthe tuner circuit 21 and the video processing portion 200 mentionedabove, it is a CPU installing OS therein. For this reason, it isnecessary to execute downloading of micro-code for each device andinitial setup, by downloading the OS stored within the memory and alsoextending the compressed data, after boot-up of the CPU by turning ONthe power source of that apparatus. And for starting up of such system,there are cases of taking about 10 seconds or more, sometimes.

Also, within the receiving apparatus 20 mentioned above, as is shown inthe left-hand side in FIG. 1, there are provided a remote controllerlight receiver portion 36, for receiving a control signal (for example,a signal of infrared ray) from the remote controller 30, for a user tocontrol the operation of the apparatus mentioned above from a remote,further a human sensor 40 for detecting an approach of a human being toa television receiver, i.e., the display system (i.e., including thereceiving apparatus 20 and the display panel (display portion) 10), andfurther a main switch 22 for building up a switch for the said displaysystem as a whole, etc., being disposed on the side of that panel.

And, in the receiving apparatus 20, according to the present invention,as well as the main CPU 201 mentioned above, there is further provided asub-CPU 60, separately; i.e., a sub-controller circuit being smaller inthe consumption of electric power than the main CPU 201. And, as isapparent from the figure, the sub-CPU 60 is connected to a STB (i.e.,standby) power terminal 71 of a main power source unit 70 providedwithin that apparatus. Further, this STB (standby) power terminal 71 isa terminal, being turned into ON condition always during a time-periodwhen a power plug 75 is inserted into (connected with) a commercialpower source, which is connected at a tip of a power cable 72 extendingfrom the main power source unit 70, i.e., the electric power sourceportion of the receiving apparatus 20. For this reason, to this CPU 60is always supplied necessary electric power (from 1 watt to severalwatts, approximately).

Also, though not shown in the figure, but the main power source 70generates various kinds of power-supply voltages desired, with usingelectric power switching elements, etc., for example, and it also startssupplying the various kinds of power-supply voltages desired topredetermined power terminals, upon basis of a control signal (CS_(U))from the sub-CPU 60 mentioned above. However, in this FIG. 1, for thepurpose of easy explanation thereof and avoiding from complication,those power terminals are shown by “?”, collectively. Explaining in moredetails thereof, those power terminals “?” are connected with theabove-mentioned tuner circuit 21, the main CPU 201, the MPEG decoder202, the video processing circuit 203, and the above-mentioned display10 and the panel 11 thereof, and further with the built-in HDD 80 andthe external DVD recorder 90 mentioned above, respectively, throughregulators R, R . . . (such as, a semiconductor switching circuit, forexample), enabling ON/OFF of the power supply, i.e., in such a mannerthat each can be turned ON/OFF, electrically. And, to the controlterminals of those regulators R, R . . . are connected a control signal(CS_(R)) from the sub-CPU 60 mentioned above, respectively, and ON/OFFof the regulators are controlled therewith.

Thus, with the constructions of the receiving apparatus 20 mentionedabove, the above-mentioned sub-CPU 60, which is connected with the STB(standby) power terminal 71 of the main power source unit 70 is turnedinto ON condition through insertion (or connection) of the power plug 75into the commercial power source, and as a result thereof, the sub-CPU60 is in the condition of enabling to execute a predetermined process,always, irrespective of presence of an instruction of power ON from themain switch 22 or the remote controller 30 mentioned above.

Further, in FIG. 3 attached herewith is shown an example of the innerstructures of the remote controller 30 mentioned above. Thus, as isapparent from this figure, this remote controller 30 comprises at leasta CPU 31 for building up a controller portion, within a housing made ofa plastic, for example, and also an input portion 32 having ten keys,shift keys (cursor keys) and various kinds of buttons, for example, forinputting various kinds of instructions from an operator (or a viewer)to the CPU 31 mentioned above, an output (display) portion 33 made of aliquid crystal display or the like, for example, for displaying thereonthe outputs (various kinds of displays) from that CPU 31, and aninfrared ray transmitter portion 34 for converting the various kinds ofinstructions, which are inputted by the viewer, into the infrared raysignals, in accordance with the control signals outputted from the CPU32 mentioned above, thereby transmitting them to the receiving apparatus20. And also, this shows an example of the remote controller 30, alsoproviding a human sensor 40′ for detecting an approach of a human beingto the television receiver, within an inside thereof, through detectionof being held on a hand of human being, for example, in addition to theabove-mentioned human sensor 40, which is provided on a side of thereceiving apparatus 20. Also, a reference numeral 36 in the figuredepicts a power source made from a battery for supplying necessaryelectric power to each of portions, which build up that remotecontroller 30.

Following to the above, detailed explanation will be made upon theoperations within the receiving apparatus 20, according to the presentinvention, the detailed structures thereof were already explained in theabove, and in particular, the operations after setting up the apparatusat a predetermined location, such as, within a room, for example,starting from the condition of inserting (or connecting) the power plug75 of the main power source unit 70 into the commercial power source upto when the viewer turns the power of the apparatus ON through the mainswitch 22 or the remote controller 30 (i.e., the power button of theremote controller), by referring to the flowchart shown in FIG. 4attached herewith. However, the processes shown below are executed bythe sub-CPU 50 mentioned above, which is always in the operatingcondition during the time-period when the power plug 75 is inserted (orconnected) into the commercial power source.

In this FIG. 4, when staring the process, the sub-CPU 60 mentioned abovesets the television receiver, including the receiving apparatus 20 andthe display panel (display portion) 10, into a first waiting condition(S41). Further, explaining this in more details thereof, under thisfirst waiting condition, supply of the power from the main power sourceunit 70 is started, in addition to the sub-CPU 60 mentioned above,further to the remote controller light receiver portion 36 and the humansensor 40, and thereby brining those remote controller light receiverportion 36 and the human sensor 40 also into the waiting conditions.Thus, under this first waiting condition, the power is supplied to thesub-CPU 60, the remote controller light receiver portion 36, and thehuman sensor 40, so as to enable the operations thereof.

Thereafter, the sub-CPU 60 makes determination on if a human beingapproaches or comes close to the television receiver or not (i.e.,including the receiving apparatus 20 and the display panel (the displayportion) 10 therein), with an aid of the detection signal, for example,from the human sensor 40, and/or that from the human sensor 40′ providedwith the remote controller 30 (S42), and as a result thereof, in casewhen determination is made that no human being approaches (i.e., “NO” inthe figure), the process is turned back to the step S41 mentioned above,again. Thus, this is repeated until when detecting that a human beingapproaches thereto (i.e., “YES” in the figure).

And, in case when detecting approach of the human being in thedetermining step S42 mentioned above (i.e., “YES” in the figure), thesub-CPU 60 mentioned above brings the television receiver, including thereceiving apparatus 20 and the display panel (the display portion) 10,into a second waiting condition (S43). Thus, under this second waitingcondition, supply of the electric power from the main power source unit70 is started, at least, to the main CPU 201 mentioned above, andfurther to the constituent parts necessitating a relatively long timefor starting thereof, including the MPEG decoder 202 and the memory 204thereof, for example. In more details thereof, as was mentioned above,since the main CPU 201 executes the downloading of micro-code for eachdevice and the initial setup, by downloading the OS stored within thememory and also extending the compressed data, after being boot-upthereof, therefore it consume a time, for example, about ten (10)seconds or more. However, according to the present embodiment, as wasmentioned above, the apparatus starts various kinds operations necessaryfor of the starting, including the boot-up mentioned above, at thetime-point when detecting the approach of the human being (i.e., thesecond waiting condition). And, after completing the startingoperations, the apparatus is in the waiting condition. Under this secondwaiting condition, since no image is displayed on the display panel, noelectric power is supplied to the display panel 11 and the videoprocessing circuit 203, etc.

Thereafter, the sub-CPU 60 further makes determination on if the viewerturns ON or not the switch for operating the apparatus (S44), forexample, through pushing-down of the power ON button of the remotecontroller or the main switch 22 mentioned above. As a result thereof,in case when determining that the switch of the apparatus is turned ON(i.e., “YES” in the figure), the normal starting operation is executed(S45). Thus, in the television receiver mentioned above, supply of theelectric power from the main power source unit 70 is started, further,to the constituent parts necessary for the operations thereof, includingthe constituent parts that are not yet started under the first waitingcondition and the second waiting condition, for example, the displaypanel (the display portion) 10, the video processing circuit 203, andthe tuner circuit 21, etc. Further, it is also possible to start supplyof the necessary electric power, at the same time, to the built-in HDD80 and the external DVD recorder 90 mentioned above.

Thus, with the starting operation within the television receiver,according to the present embodiment mentioned above, startup is made inadvance, by supplying the electric power, in particular, to theconstituent parts needing a relatively long time for starting thereof,such as, the CPU and/or the digital LSI installing OS therein, forexample, under the second waiting condition, i.e., at the time-pointwhen detecting the approach of the human being, the viewer, to theapparatus, and thereafter, the electric power is supplied to theconstituent parts necessary for other operations of the apparatus, underthe condition where the switch actually operating the apparatus isturned ON; therefore it is possible to shorten the waiting time afterthe starting of the television receiver. Thus, according to the presentembodiment, it is possible to shorten the time from the time whenturning the power ON of the remote controller up to the time when anactual image is displayed on the display panel 11, greatly, under thewaiting condition of the display apparatus 10, for example, from about10 seconds with the conventional apparatus down to 1 to 2 seconds.

However, in that instance, for example, the consumption of electricpower within the sub-CPU 60, the remote controller light receiverportion 35, and the human sensor 40, which are started under the firstwaiting condition mentioned above, is equal or less than 1 W, andfurther, is 5-10 W at the maximum, even including the power consumptionwithin the MPEG decoder 202 and the memory 204 thereof; i.e., it is verysmall comparing to the power consumption 150-200 W of the LCD (liquidcrystal display) or the power consumption 200-300 W of the PDP (i.e.,the plasma display panel), building up the display panel (the displayportion) 10. Therefore, it is also possible to suppress the powerconsumption within the broadcast receiving apparatus, in particular,during the waiting time thereof.

Although the explanation in the above was made that, in addition to themain CPU 201 mentioned above, the MPEG decoder 202 and the memory 204thereof are also the constituent parts to be started up under the secondwaiting condition, however the present invention should not berestricted only to this; i.e., it is also possible to start up as anunit, for example, if mounting the video processing circuit 203, etc.,on one (1) piece of substrate (or one (1) chip), including those.

And, in the embodiment mentioned above, in case when determining thatthe switch of the apparatus is not turned ON (i.e., “NO” in the figure)as a result of the determination (S44), the apparatus waits as it isuntil when the switch thereof is turned ON. However, in the place ofthis, though not shown in the figure, it is also possible to provide atimer of several minutes, for example, so that it turns back, again, tothe step S41 mentioned above, i.e., the first waiting condition, whenthat condition of not turning this switch ON (i.e., “NO” in the figure)exceeds the setup timer, and this may be preferable, in particular, forsuppressing the consumption of electric power when it is under thewaiting condition.

Following to the above, explanation will be made hereinafter, upon thehuman sensors 40 and 40′ mentioned above. As is apparent from the above,in the present embodiment, the above-mentioned human sensors 40 and 40′are provided for detecting the fact that a human being, i.e., anoperator (or the viewer) of the television receiver approaches to theapparatus, so as to start (i.e., power ON) that apparatus, in advance tothe actual startup (i.e., the power ON) of the apparatus. For thatreason, as such the human sensors can be adopted one for detectingchange of electrostatic capacitance due to approach of the human being(i.e., a proximity switch of electrostatic capacitance method), one fordetecting with using change of temperature due to approach of the humanbeing (i.e., a thermo-sensor), and further one for detecting a touch onthe remote controller 30 to be utilized for operation thereof, in manycases, as is shown in FIG. 3 mentioned above (i.e., a touch sensor),etc. Or, alternatively, in the place of those, it is also possible todispose a set, such as, a light emitting diode (LED) of infrared rays orthe like and a light receiving element thereof, for example, at apredetermined position (for example, at an entrance of the room wherethe television receiver is set up), thereby detecting the approachthrough interruption or shutoff of an optical path due to the humanbeing. Thus, the human sensor for building up the proximity detectionmeans detects physical changes within a space where the televisionreceiver is set up, thereby detecting approach of the human being, i.e.,the operator (or the viewer) to that apparatus.

Further, for example, as is shown in FIG. 5 attached herewith, it isalso possible to build up such the human sensor as mentioned above, byattaching a single or a plural number of camera apparatus(es), each ofwhich is made up with a lens and a CCD element, etc., for example, at aportion of the television receiver, in particular, at a portion of thedisplay panel (the display portion) 10 opposing to the viewer whenviewing. However, in case when applying the camera apparatus(es) 110 asthe human sensor, it is possible to detect approach of the human being,with much certainty, by detecting a skin color on an picture or imagewhich is picked up. Further, the process for that is executed with anaid the sub-CPU 60 mentioned above, by inputting the picture picked upfrom the camera apparatus(es) 110. Also, the camera apparatus(es) may beattached at a portion of the receiving apparatus 20 mentioned above, forexample, in the place of the display panel (the display portion) 10mentioned above, in particular, on the panel thereof.

It is also possible to change the timing for shifting between the firstand second waiting conditions, by changing the detection sensitivity ofthe human sensors 40 and 40′ mentioned above. For example, if increasingthe detection sensitivity of the human sensors 40 and 40′, since by thesensors 40 and 40′ it is possible to detect the existence of that userwhen she/he enters into the room where the display apparatus 10 is setup, it is possible to shift the apparatus from the first waitingcondition into the second waiting condition, as quickly as possible. Thedetection sensitivity of the human sensors 40 and 40′ may be shown on amenu screen on the display, so as to be changed by the remote controllerthrough this menu screen.

Also, with the embodiment mentioned above, detection of approach of thehuman being to the display apparatus, by means of the human sensor(s) orthe like, brings the apparatus to shift from the first waiting conditioninto the second waiting condition. However, the present invention shouldnot be restricted to this. For example, detecting is made upon thepresent time, with using a timer, which is equipped with the displayapparatus 10, inherently, and the display apparatus may shifted from thefirst waiting condition into the second waiting condition depending onthat present time detected. For example, since the time zones when theviewer watches the television program are 6:00-8:00 and 18:00-24:00, inaverage, then as predetermined time zone for shifting into the secondwaiting condition are set 6:00-8:00 and 18:00-24:00, in advance. And,when the present time detected by the timer mentioned above enters intothe time zones, which are set up in advance, in case where the displayapparatus 10 is in the first waiting condition, then that displayapparatus 10 is shifted, automatically, from the first waiting conditioninto the second waiting condition. On the contrary, when the presenttime detected by the timer comes out of the time zones, which are set upin advance, in case where the display apparatus 10 is in the secondwaiting condition, then that display apparatus 10 is shifted,automatically, from the second waiting condition Ito the first waitingcondition. Such the timer as was mentioned above may be built in thesub-CPU 60 or the main CPU 201, for example.

Also, this time zone may be freely settable, by the user. For example,on the display panel 11 is displayed a menu screen for time setup, so asto into the time zone from this menu screen. If that viewer watches thetelevision program within a time zone 13:00-18:00, for example, the time13:00 and the time 18:00 are inputted on the menu screen with using theremote controller 30. And, in case when the present time detected by thetimer enters into the time zone 13:00-18:00, which is set up by theviewer, the display apparatus is shifted from the first waitingcondition into the second waiting condition, automatically. On thecontrary, where the display apparatus 10 is in the second waitingcondition, that display apparatus 10 is shifted from the second waitingcondition into the first waiting condition, automatically, in case whenthe present time detected by the timer mentioned above comes out of thetime zone, which is set up by the viewer.

As was mentioned above, with shifting the apparatus into the secondwaiting condition during only the predetermined time zone with using thetimer, it is possible to shorten the time from the waiting conditionuntil the display operation, while suppressing the consumption ofelectric power under the waiting condition thereof, at a low cost,without provision of new elements, such as, the human sensor, etc.Further, also for the purpose of making the display apparatusacknowledgeable to be in the first waiting condition or in the secondwaiting condition, from an outlook thereof, there may be provided adisplay or light emitting element, such as, a LED, etc., for visuallydistinguishing the waiting condition thereof. For example, three (3)kinds of LEDs are provided, i.e., a green color LED, a red color LED,and a yellow color LED, for example, wherein the red color LEDirradiates when the apparatus is in the normal operation condition, thered color LED irradiates when it is in the first waiting condition, andthe yellow color LED irradiates when it is in the second waitingcondition. Also, it is possible to provide of two (2) kinds of LEDs,i.e., a green color LED and a red color LED, wherein the green color LEDirradiates when it is in the normal operation condition, the red colorLED irradiates when it is in the first waiting condition, and the redcolor LED turns ON and OFF when it is in the second waiting condition.

Furthermore, connecting the display apparatus 10 with an air conditioneror a lighting apparatus within the room through a home network, therebycommunicating with each other, it is possible to control shiftingbetween the first waiting condition and the second waiting conditionlinking with the power switch of the air conditioner or the lightingapparatus. For example, when the user turns the light ON within the roomwhere the display apparatus 10 is set up, a control signal istransmitted from the lighting apparatus, responding to the turning ON ofthe light, through the home network, to the sub-CPU 60 of the displayapparatus 10. With this, the display apparatus 10 can be shifted fromthe first waiting condition into the second waiting condition in linkagewith the turning ON of the lighting apparatus. In the similar manner,when turning the power of the air condition within the room into ONcondition, the control signal may be transmitted from the airconditioner, responding thereto, to the sub-CPU 60 of the displayapparatus 10 through the home network. With this, it is possible toexecute that shifting mentioned above in linkage with the turning ON ofthe power of the air conditioner. With such the structures, it ispossible to control shifting between the waiting conditions of thedisplay apparatus 10, under the condition of high probability that theuser views the display apparatus 10.

As was mentioned above, according to the present embodiment, the displayapparatus 10 has the waiting conditions (i.e., the signal of the remotecontroller); thus, as the waiting operation modes, a first waitingoperation mode, being a normal waiting operation mode, and a secondwaiting operation mode, though being larger in the consumption ofelectric power than the first waiting operation mode, but able todisplay an image thereon, quickly, when turning the power ON. And,according to the present embodiment, the time during when the secondwaiting operation mode is in effective, is restricted, appropriately,upon basis of the control signals or the like from the human sensor, thetimer, the external equipments connected with the home network. Withthis, according to the present embodiment, it is possible to reduce orshorten the time from the turning ON of power until displaying of animage, but without increasing the electric power consumption, largely,during the time-period of the waiting condition (i.e., the waitingoperation mode).

While we have shown and described several embodiments in accordance withour invention, it should be understood that disclosed embodiments aresusceptible of changes and modifications without departing from thescope of the invention. Therefore, we do not intend to be bound by thedetails shown and described herein but intend to cover all such changesand modifications that fall within the ambit of the appended claims.

1. A display apparatus, comprising: a receiving portion which isconfigured to receive a digital broadcasting signal; a decoder which isconfigured to decode the digital broadcasting signal received on saidreceiving portion; a display portion which is configured to display animage based upon a signal from said decoder; a controller portion whichis configured to display the image on said display portion when anoperation is made for turning a power source ON upon a remote controllerfor controlling said display apparatus, under a waiting condition ofsaid display apparatus where no image is displayed on said displayportion; and a sensor which is configured to detect a presence of ahuman being, wherein said waiting condition of said display apparatusincludes a first waiting condition, and a second waiting condition,being shorter in a starting time, from time when the operation is madefor turning said power source ON until time when the image is displayedon said display portion, and smaller in a power consumption, comparingto those of said first waiting condition, said controller portionchanges the waiting condition of said display apparatus into said secondwaiting condition, when said sensor detects the presence of the humanbeing while under said first waiting condition, and changes the waitingcondition of said display apparatus into said first waiting condition,when no operation is made for turning said power source ON, for apredetermined time period, after changing the waiting condition intosaid second waiting condition.
 2. A display apparatus, comprising: areceiving portion which is configured to receive a digital broadcastingsignal; a decoder which is configured to decode the digital broadcastingsignal received on said receiving portion; a display portion which isconfigured to display an image based upon a signal from said decoder; acontroller portion which is configured to display the image on saiddisplay portion when an operation is made for turning a power source ONupon a remote controller for controlling said display apparatus, under awaiting condition of said display apparatus where no image is displayedon said display portion; and a sensor which is configured to detect apresence of a human being, wherein said waiting condition of saiddisplay apparatus includes a first waiting condition, and a secondwaiting condition, being shorter in a starting time, from time when theoperation is made for turning said power source ON until time when theimage is displayed on said display portion, and smaller in a powerconsumption, comparing to those of said first waiting condition, saidcontroller portion shifts the waiting condition of said displayapparatus into said second waiting condition, when said sensor detectsthe presence of the human being while under said first waitingcondition, and shifts the waiting condition of said display apparatusinto said first waiting condition, when no operation is made for turningsaid power source ON, for a predetermined time period, after changingthe waiting condition into said second waiting condition.
 3. The displayapparatus, as described in the claim 2, wherein said controller portionshifts the waiting condition from said second waiting condition to saidfirst waiting condition, when said sensor detects no presence of thehuman being while under said second waiting condition.
 4. The displayapparatus, as described in the claim 2, further comprising a remotecontroller light receiving portion which is configured to receive alight of a remote control signal from said remote controller, thereby tooutput it to said controller portion, wherein said remote controllerlight receiving portion is able to operate in either said first waitingcondition or said second waiting condition.
 5. The display apparatus, asdescribed in the claim 2, further comprising a main controller portionwhich is configured to control said receiving portion, said decoder andsaid display portion, wherein said main controller portion does notoperate under said first waiting condition, but operates under saidsecond waiting condition.
 6. The display apparatus, as described in theclaim 2, wherein said decoder does not operate under said first waitingcondition, but operates under said second waiting condition.
 7. Thedisplay apparatus, as described in the claim 5, further comprising amain controller portion which is configured to control said receivingportion, said decoder and said display portion, wherein said maincontroller portion is unified with said decoder in one body, and furthersaid main controller portion does not operate under said first waitingcondition, but operates under said second waiting condition.
 8. In amethod for controlling a starting operation in a digital broadcastingsignal receiving apparatus, said digital broadcasting signal receivingapparatus having a receiving portion which is configured to receive adigital broadcasting signal; a decoder which is configured to decode thedigital broadcasting signal received on said receiving portion; acontroller portion which is configured to output a signal decoded insaid decoder, responding to an operation for turning a power source ONupon a remote controller for controlling said digital broadcastingsignal receiving apparatus; and a sensor which is configured to detect apresence of a human being, wherein said controller portion controls awaiting condition in either a first waiting condition or a secondwaiting condition, depending on a result of detection of said sensorwhen said digital broadcasting signal receiving apparatus is in thewaiting condition, wherein said second waiting condition is shorter in astarting time, from time when the operation is made for turning saidtower source ON until time when the signal decoded in said decoder isoutputted, and is smaller in a power consumption, comparing to those ofsaid first waiting condition, and said controller portion changes thewaiting condition into the second waiting condition when said sensordetects the presence of the human being while under said first waitingcondition, and controls in such a manner that the waiting condition isturned back to the first waiting condition when no operation for turningsaid power source ON is made until time when passing a predeterminedtime period after said change.
 9. A display apparatus, comprising: areceiving portion which is configured to receive a digital broadcastingsignal; a decoder which is configured to decode the digital broadcastingsignal received on said receiving portion; a display portion which isconfigured to display an image based upon a signal from said decoder; acontroller portion which is configured to display the image on saiddisplay portion when an operation is made for turning a power source ONupon a remote controller for controlling said display apparatus, under awaiting condition of said display apparatus where no image is displayedon said display portion, and a sensor which is configured to detect apresence of a human being, wherein said waiting condition of saiddisplay apparatus includes a first waiting condition, and a secondwaiting condition being shorter in a starting time, from time when theoperation is made for turning said power source ON until time when theimage is displayed on said display portion, and smaller in a powerconsumption, comparing to those of said first waiting condition, saiddisplay portion is connected with an other apparatus through a homenetwork, and said controller portion exchanges between said firstwaiting condition and said second waiting condition in cooperation withan operation of said other apparatus which is connected with said homenetwork.
 10. The display apparatus, as described in the claim 9, whereinsaid other apparatus is a lighting device of a room in which saiddisplay apparatus is installed, and said controller portion changes thewaiting condition of said display apparatus from said first waitingcondition to said second waiting condition, when said lighting device isturned ON under the condition where said display apparatus is in saidfirst waiting condition.
 11. The display apparatus, as described in theclaim 9, wherein said other apparatus is an air conditioner of a room inwhich said display apparatus is installed, and said controller portionchanges the waiting condition of said display apparatus from said firstwaiting condition to said second waiting condition, when a power sourceof said air conditioner is turned ON under the condition where saiddisplay apparatus is in said first waiting condition.